A Laredo man's history with firearms has once again landed him in federal prison. Fernando Perez, 41, received a 71-month sentence after pleading guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon—a violation of federal law given his prior felony. This sentencing follows a guilty plea made on July 9, as announced by U.S. Attorney Alamdar S. Hamdani.
The investigation that brought Perez down kicked off on June 12, 2019, in Webb County. Looking to seriously tackle illegal firearms trafficking, investigators were able to quickly identify Perez as someone attempting to sell semi-automatic rifles on the streets. It was in the full light of day when he managed to unlawfully sell a Stag Arms, model Stag 15, 5.56 caliber semi-automatic rifle for $2,000—a transaction that firmly violated federal law given Perez's criminal background.
According to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Perez's first run-in with firearm possession as a felon dates back to 2012. Given this record, he shouldn't have been anywhere near firearms or ammunition. Now, after the court's verdict, he'll be spending a significant amount of time behind bars before facing three years of supervised release.
The case against Perez was a collaborative effort, with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives conducting the main investigation alongside the Laredo Police Department and Webb County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Francisco J. Rodriguez and Andrew Hakala-Finch prosecuted the case, which is set to finally conclude as Perez shortly will be transferred to a U.S. Bureau of Prisons facility, the location of which is yet to be determined.
